The first phase of the Devils Lake Hospital Renovations is merely days away from being completed.
In this first phase the patient entrance to Emergency, check in and the large vacant space across the hall, that formerly had been used for physical therapy, have been transformed into a modern Emergency Department. It features sleek, clean lines, lots of glass and light with walls in light colors; white, gray and blue.
Montana Halberg, RN BSN, is the Interim ER Supervisor. She gave the Journal a tour of the almost finished first phase of the Emergency Room. A local resident, she is originally from Lakota, was a CNA for a few years before becoming a nurse, about four years ago. She’s been with CHI St. Alexius Health Devils Lake Hospital for about one year now, coming to us after two years at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.
In the first room most ER patients will see, the Triage Room, Halberg pointed out the brand new call light system that unites the entire Emergency Department.
There’s a room especially designed as a “Safe Room” for patients presenting with mental health issues. Within that room is an equipment garage that contains a secured computer and the equipment that may be needed to treat the patient in need.
There’s a special trauma room designed for bariatric patients with equipment designed to lift an individual of up to 700 lbs. For the time being, however, it will serve as a trauma room until the whole ER project is completed. Both trauma and critical patients will be treated there.
In all, so far, there will be eight Patient Rooms – double what they’ve had before.
The new Nurse’s Station will feature four computer bays, also double what they have now.
Once this first phase of the ER is completed, then Phase Two begins and the space that presently serves as the ER will undergo transformation, as well. Workers will bust through the wall to the north of the Nurse’s Station and begin construction on the present ER adding patient rooms and another trauma bay and more. This way the hospital continues to have an Emergency Room, even as construction continues.
The new and improved Emergency Department will boast three more rooms, one trauma bay with two beds and the only part of the present ER that will remain the same will be the ambulance bay, however that may see some cosmetic changes to match the decor of the newly renovated space.
When all is finished they will also have their own med. room, two utility rooms – one for clean linens and one for used – and a nurse’s break room.
Plans may be in the works for a formal ribbon cutting event sometime soon to acknowledge the completion of Phase One at Devils Lake’s Hospital. The Journal will let you know when and if that is going to take place, it certainly is something to celebrate.